The Draw for the qualifying round was held on July 13 at the CONCACAF headquarters in Houston. Teams from the same nation could not be drawn against each other.
Each qualifying match consists of two legs, with each team playing one home and one away. The team with the most combined goals over the two legs wins the match. If the score is even, extra time, followed by penalty kicks will be used to determine a winner. The away goals rule is not used.
The winner of each match qualifies for the First Group Stage. The loser is relegated to the McDonald's Soccer Tournament.
The thirty-two remaining clubs are divided into eight groups with four clubs each. Clubs from the same nation may not be grouped together. Each group consists of two clubs that got into this stage directly and two that had to qualify. Each club plays six matches - one home and one away against each of three opponents. The top two clubs from each group progress to a second group stage, while the third-place club from each group moves to the McDonalds Soccer Tournament round of 32.
The Draw was held on August 9, and the matches were held from August 31–November 17
Any ties in the standings will be broken in the following manor:
higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question;
superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question;
higher number of goals scored in the group matches played among the teams in question;
superior goal difference from all group matches played;
higher number of goals scored in all group matches played;
in cases where exactly two clubs are tied on all previous criteria and they play each other on the final matchday, kicks from the penalty mark will be conducted in lieu of the remaining criteria;
higher number of coefficient points accumulated by the club in question, as well as its association, over the previous three seasons;
drawing of lots.
Key to colours in group tables
Teams that progressed to the Second Group Stage are indicated in bold type
Teams relegated to the McDonalds Soccer Cup Round of 32 are indicated in bold italics
Teams relegated to the Smith Tournament Round of 32 are indicated in plain text.